It is our privilege to welcome you to the Charity Baptist
Mission web page. We hope this will be a testament of what the Lord is doing
in America and throughout the world.

In 1973, the Lord laid upon my heart to start Charity
Baptist Mission Inc., here in Bristol, Tennessee. We started it
because we were opening a children’s home in Mexico. From there the Lord
continued to bless and increased the areas to other countries by which we
could share the Gospel of our Lord and Saviour.

It has been truly a blessing to see how the Lord has used
missionaries to reach the lost and see them saved.

We believe in the Authorized King James
1611 version of the Word of God. It has stood the test of time and we
believe this is the only true Bible.

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We are coming to the
end of a very busy summer and (at least most of the kids) are dreading the start
of a new school year. Six of our Home kids are starting high school this year
and our oldest, Meli, is in her last year of vocational school. It doesn’t seem
that long ago when we were feeding them all in a row of high chairs. When we
stop to think about where they came from and the odds that all of them, maybe
any of them, would make it to high school, we have to thank the Lord. More
importantly, they have grown up in a home where Jesus Christ is at the center of
all we do. They know God and have seen His hand on their lives and on our family
and work. Many of them have already been saved and baptized. They are all
becoming young men and women that reflect Jesus Christ’s presence in their lives
and we could not be more proud.

Today we were visited by some of the chaplain team serving at the nearby
American military base. Dara served them lunch and then we spent some time
making plans for groups of the incoming soldiers to come out and be involved at
the Home. Before they left, we took them up to the church and Dara and the kids
sang several songs. It is always a blessing when the Lord opens the door for us
to share His love with others. Several of the soldiers are coming out to be in
church with us tomorrow.

We hosted a couple of big Turkish meetings here this summer. The missionaries in
Bulgaria brought up carloads of Turks from their churches and we gathered
believers from the Romanian Turkish meetings for three day meetings of singing,
praying, testifying and preaching. The national pastors did most of the
preaching and it is so good to see how, over the years, they have grown in God’s
Word. They are truly pastors - shepherds - that are caring for and feeding the
flock that God has given them.

UPDATE - I wasn’t able to finish this letter until after church on Sunday. We
did have a group of military join us for church, five men and one young lady.
Brother Matt Welch was also here with his family and he preached a beautiful
message about Jesus’ meeting with the Samaritan woman at the well. It was one of
those good services where you could feel the Lord moving and even though you may
not have known what it was, you felt like the Lord was doing something. After
the service, we found out that the young lady visiting accepted Jesus Christ as
her Savior. She was beaming with joy and couldn’t stop smiling. We all rejoiced
with her and gave thanks to our Lord who, praise His Name, is still seeking and
saving lost souls.

Again, we appreciate you who keep us in your prayers and who faithfully support
the work here in Romania and Bulgaria. Our prayers are with you as well.

In Christ,The Turners

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From Bulgaria

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D

ear
Brethren, September 2017

“Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.”
Psalm 103:1

This verse has become our personal psalm of praise and instead of a typical
update and prayer letter, I would just like to praise the Lord a while for what
great things He has done. He is worthy to be praised. He continues to prove
Himself faithful and has provided above and beyond all that we hoped or
imagined. He has heard our cries and answered our prayers. I better just jump
into telling you about all the good things that have taken place during this
furlough - take a minute to consider the depth of each one:

Hannah and Joshua are settled in, here in America. Carrie’s health is in hand
and she has been given the all clear to return to the field. National Pastor
Ismail’s monthly support needs have been met. We all underwent Christian
counseling for PTSD and our counselors praise the Lord with us for our quick
progress. Carrie is singing again. We’ve had times of rest and relaxation with
friends who encouraged us more than words. We got to spend quality time with
family, both immediate and extended. A dear family - a missionary to
missionaries - let us stay in one of their rental homes in Florida, allowing us
to rest. We made many new friends, laughed a lot, and have new supporting
churches. I got to preach a lot in English. We got the clothes and shoes we all
needed. And, Carrie and I got to go on many dates, including one tubing
adventure down a river in Tennessee. A lot has been packed into six months and I
bless the Lord.

We plan to fly back to Bulgaria on the 18th of this month and will resume our
ministry among the Turkish speaking people there. We ask for your prayers. Pray
for our safety and encouragement as we travel and for our grown children who
will remain. We will begin fundraising for this year’s Coats for Kids drive this
month, so pray about that. And pray for the ministry vehicle fund. This is one
need that has not yet been fully met, but we trust God to meet this need. Of the
$18,000 we need, we have a little over $1,100. Pray.

A heartfelt thanks to everyone for your faithful prayers and support of our
family and the ministries.

Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of
the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye
from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel? Ezekiel 33:11

Greetings from Boston,
August 2017

I would like to thank all that have a part in this work. Thank you for your
love, prayers and support. I would like to have us all pray for our country, as
we can put America in that verse from Ezekiel. We see our country’s foundation
being destroyed by the wicked many years ago by taking the word of God and
prayer out of our schools and government. They have wanted to replace it with
Islam and the Koran instead of the God’s word.

Our young people die for lack of knowledge of the word of God. It is our
responsibility as Christians to proclaim the word of God. I have had many
opportunities lately to go to high schools and junior high schools, sometimes
not even knowing that is where I would wind up while giving out tracts. So many
of today’s young people have been taking the tracts and letting me tell them
that Jesus loves them, and that he died for their sins.

One time many young people were getting on the bus, but I could not reach my bag
in time to get them a tract. When I got off the bus I started tracking the
neighborhood and ended up in front of a graduation ceremony. At first I did not
want to interrupt the ceremony, so I hung around until it was over. The young
people and their families came by me and I ended up giving them all tracts. One
young man said to me as I told him God loved him, “Thank you very much sir, this
is just what I needed.” What a blessing!

I have ended up at so many events through the spring and summer. Case in point:
The Tall Ships Festival came to Boston. I had hundreds of tracts with tall ships
on them for the occasion. So many people took them and I also put many on the
cars. I saw people take them off of their cars with tract in hand and take it
with them as they drove off with the word of God.

I also went to a Greek festival and little did I know that I would end up
getting a gospel tract in the mayor of Boston’s hand who told me he would read
it. I think he noticed my Heaven and Hell hat. Also, I had Greek language tracts
and many of the Greek orthodox priests took them. I started feeling uneasy and
felt like it was time to go. So I went into a doughnut shop to get an ice
coffee. It clouded up and all of a sudden started raining cats and dogs. I
realized it was the Lord getting me out of the bad weather and that put an end
to their religious festival. I thought within myself that the word of God says
“The rain falls on the just and the unjust.”

Recently
I went to an anti-Trump rally. I had my Bible verse sign Psalms 9:17.” The
wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.” That
sign ended up in their video that they were recording for their propaganda. Not
many people took tracts, but out of the crowd came a woman who said Mr. Costigan,
“What are you doing here?” She is the therapist at the VA Hospital in the
rehabilitation department. The Lord used this lady to help me get my motorized
wheel chair. This is the chair I use to help spread the gospel and hand out
tracts all over the city. She took a tract as she usually does when I see her at
the VA. This time I had a little more time to talk with her and explain my
reason for being there.

Remember Proverbs 3:5, 6, ”Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not
unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall
direct thy paths.” I believe she is the whole reason for my being at the rally.

Another time while handing out tracts at that area I talked to some undercover
detectives. I gave them some tracts and testified about what the Lord had done
for me and also them. They drove off and the Lord brought to my mind that one of
the detectives had a tattoo on his arm that said freedom. Well, in my tract
assortment I remember as they drove off that I had a tract entitled freedom. I
thought I missed the opportunity but they came around the corner again and I
stopped them and gave him a tract of the statue of Liberty on the front of it
titled Freedom. I said, “I noticed your tattoo Freedom. This will explain what
true freedom is.”

In closing, I would like you to pray for a girl named Jen. She got saved, and it
was amazing as I shared the scriptures with her. I saw how the word of God came
to life in such a beautiful way. The light shineth in the darkness and the
darkness comprehendeth it not. I had seen this happening to her when Jesus said
”I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness,
but shall have the light of life.” John 8:12. She said she would like to go with
me and pass out tracts. I asked her why? She said, “I want to help others!” Now
that’s a good answer. Only the Lord could put that in her heart. It’s a long
story to explain how she ended up in my life and I will explain in a future
newsletter. I will dedicate the newsletter solely on her testimony. It would be
a little hard to do at this time. I will need a lot of prayer. Please pray for
me as it is somewhat painful, but yet glorified the Lord Jesus Christ in ways
that I never thought would happen.

If anyone can help me out I can use some more chick tracts. I’ll write soon
again. Eph. 6:10-20

Grace be unto you and peace from God our Father and His Son Jesus Christ. Out of
all the seasons I enjoy spring the most. After having come though winter with
its barren landscape I love seeing ''Life from the dead''. So it is in our
ministry as Christians, witnessing people who were dead in trespasses and sins
be quickened by the word of God that liveth and abideth forever. 1 Peter 2:23

Boncho's wife is Penka. She is a born again Christian and has been a member of
one of our village churches for many years. In good times and bad times she has
blessed the Lord. I have known her husband Boncho for a long time. He came to my
house years ago and plowed and planted corn with a horse. For this work I paid
him a piglet for which he was very happy. He is a nice man, but we could never
get him to come to church. In June of this year this changed. Boncho found
himself in a bad way and in need of some help that only God could provide. He
showed up at church for the worship service where we sing, pray and preach God’s
Word. The seed of God’s Word was planted. By the next week Boncho had gotten
saved by receiving the Lord Jesus Christ as his Lord and Saviour. He was
rejoicing with joy unspeakable and was full of the glory of God. 1 Peter
1:8 Oh my, how this made the church rejoice. No one saw this coming! We all felt
like this farmer who “kneweth not how”.

Our encouragement is how God’s Word is alive, and He is at work. We might "knoweth
not how'', but we do have faith in God and His word. God has given us many
promises concerning His word as in Isa.55:11. All I can say is, it’s a wonderful
thing to see God's Word spring up and bear fruit in someone’s life and soul.

We also have continued to work on the church building in Vuglen. It is coming
along well. We still have some work to do, but hopefully it will be completed
soon.

My wife and I would like to announce the engagement of our daughter Rebecca to
Mr. Jesse Adcock. Their wedding is planned for October 7th 2017, which we hope
to attend in Florida. Please pray for them as they begin a new life together.

Thank you for your prayers and support. May God bless you and keep you and make
His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. Numbers 6:24, 25

In the village of Shkorpilovtsi, the church continues to thrive. The lady of the
house, Nazife, who long ago opened her heart and home to the Lord, has recently
returned from Austria. She didn’t want to go initially, but her children, who
have lived there for years, begged her. In addition to the family reunion, she’d
be able to get better health care, having suffered long from the residual
effects of chemotherapy. She went, determined to make the best of it. She took
with her as many New Testaments and hymnbooks as she could carry in her luggage.
While there, she would often call back during our services to hear us singing
hymns and would join with us over the phone. After passing the winter idly, she
made up her mind to return home. Her family tried to dissuade her, but she was
set on returning. The first church service after her return, she cried and
hugged everyone. She said, “I got back to my house on Tuesday, but today I’m
home.” That first meeting, after many tears and testimonies, Nazife asked prayer
for her daughter. They had found tumors on her vocal chords, and the doctors had
said there was a good possibility, in removing them, that she’d never speak
again. That evening we had special prayer for her. The whole week, however, her
burdened mother prayed without ceasing. She knew the surgery was scheduled for
some time that week, but had no idea when precisely. Friday morning she received
a phone call. She was ecstatic to hear her daughter speaking clearly, praising
God for bringing her safely through. This week her family from Austria is
visiting. Our dear sister is planning a thanksgiving supper, inviting everyone
who will come to rejoice with her in God’s deliverance.

In Novi Pazar, through a series of unfortunate events, one of our elderly church
members' daughter was arrested. She was held in the local jail until
arrangements could be made to transport her to prison. Her mother was devastated
at the news. She came to church in such a state that her unbearable burden moved
every heart. From every corner she heard that her daughter was beyond help and
would likely suffer horribly in prison. But prayer was made by the church, and
our hurting hearts moved our heavenly Father. The local authorities transported
the young lady to the prison in Ruse, and there left her to be admitted. Soon
the prison called back to the local police asking for the woman’s paperwork. The
police said they had no paperwork, that they had given it all to the prison. The
prison said no one had given them anything. After a heated back and forth, the
prison said they wouldn’t admit her without paperwork. The local police said
they couldn’t take her back to jail without paperwork. They decided the best
course of action was to take her home and forget it ever happened. Our God still
answers prayers.

Finally, I’d again like to ask you all for your faith and prayers. Our furlough
is fast approaching. Lord willing, we will be departing August 23rd for an
extended visit to the States. We are packing up house here in Levski, moving out
one more time in preparation for our departure. It’s my desire, while on
furlough, to see as many of you as possible and get to as many new meetings as
the Lord provides. Please, if you have any open dates and would like us in, all
our contact info is below. We’d love to come and testify as to the goodness of
our Savior demonstrated toward the gypsy Turks of Bulgaria.

Pray for us. As you can imagine, our needs are many, but I’m not asking for
anything more than your help in praying and believing. I’m thankful for all that
the Lord Jesus does for us and with us here. I bless the Lord in everything, for
good times and hard times. I even thank Him for the ol' Devil that fights us,
for trials, storms, and valleys. And I thank Him now for what will be, for
meeting these things we have need of. I rejoice in their fulfillment. My needs
exceed your resources and mine, but not the Lord’s. Our heavenly Joseph is in
charge of the storehouses of God’s bounty, and they stand open to needy souls.
Help us pray; believe for us when our faith wanes, and we’ll do the same for
you. We love you. Because of a living Saviour,

It is an honor to write to you from Romania once again. The Lord is good and
truly to be praised and I praise him today!

Thank you so much for praying for the older lady in the town of Calarasi who was
dying. Many times she would become sick and I would go by and have a service and
pray and she would receive strength. Toward the end she drifted off into a coma
and stopped eating. Jacob and Kemal gathered the believers from Constanta and
started the journey to Calarasi as I sat with the family while they prepared for
Mammy’s death. About an hour before the believer’s arrival, a miracle happened
and Mammy began to awake and wanted to sit up! She couldn’t talk, but wanted
something to drink. They had some water and fruit which they tried to give her,
but she was only able to eat and drink a little. During those 60 minutes it was
wonderful to see the family come in and out of the house, amazed at how the Lord
had raised her up. The most amazing thing to watch was the grandchildren and
great grandchildren. After the adults had cleared the room, they began to come
and sit on the floor before the bed. I would watch Mammy as she would look at
them and I could see her lips moving. One little girl came to the door and Mammy
tried to wave for her to come to her side, but was very weak. One of the older
girl’s went to bring the little girl to Mammy’s bed and as if the time had come,
she raised her hands and though I couldn’t hear, I knew she was praying for
those little ones. It was such a powerful moment and most of the 20 or so
children didn’t know what was happening, but there was no mistake of the
presence of the Holy Spirit as she prayed for God to watch over them. The
believers arrived and we had a wonderful service. Mammy seemed to receive
strength from the believers and was able to greet them after the service. The
whole next week I held service every morning at her house and Mammy got stronger
and stronger to the place where she was able to feed herself and walk to the
bathroom with help. God took Mammy to heaven on Easter morning. She died after
telling her grandson, Emara, not to worry. She said Jesus had told her she was
going home today. What a wonderful testimony she has left us to help her family
find the way, the truth and the life. Now every time we sing her hymn, everyone
knows that it is the hymn Mammy loved. It was an honor to preach her funeral.
“..….Yea, saith the Spirit, they may rest from their labours; and their works do
follow them.” Revelation 14:13. Amen!

The meetings
are going well and I’m thankful to tell you
we have been able to baptize six believers
this year. Just yesterday we were able to
baptize two. This morning Teresa and I went
to the meeting and about half way through,
in came Ekrem who was baptized yesterday. He
still had his work cloths on and was smiling
from ear to ear. He said he had finished up
early and rushed to come to prayer meeting.
Such joy and hope he brings to the older
believers and us. Out of the nine that were
baptized last year, four were present this
morning and four more came as their work
schedules or unsaved husbands allow. One was
forced into prostitution by her husband and
I ask you to pray for her deliverance from
the devil’s plans. Amelia is in the picture
above. She is the mother of little
Alexandria who had leukemia, I asked you to
pray for a couple years ago. God healed
Alexandria through prayer and Amelia knows
it. She was one of the ones to follow the
Lord in baptism just last month. Amelia now
has great faith because of these trials and
it’s a great joy to be a part of her
continual growth. What joy and faith came
out of her the day she was baptized! Now she
believes God for her husband to be saved.
Please help us pray for her husband’s faith
and salvation.

We praise God for adding to
the church every year as he sees fit and please continue to pray for us
and all the national pastors and missionaries as we try to keep and
shepherd His flock.

We would also like to ask you
to pray for Jacob, his wife, and children as we go to the Embassy
tomorrow and submit a request for them to return to America for a short
furlough. Nothing is easy over here, but I know our God is able.

"For the perfecting of the saints, for
the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ" (Eph. 4:12)

Dear churches and praying friends,
June 2017

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, who has called
us and put us into this ministry. I thank the Lord that this is his ministry,
and we are labourers together with you. You all labour with us in your prayers
and support, while we labour in the field.

This spring we've been as busy as ever. Since missionary Larry Leach has left
for his furlough, we are going to his meetings along with Pastor Ismail, as well
as our other meetings with Pastor Alish. That makes ten church services a week,
and then the occasional larger meetings on Saturdays. Then, once a month we
travel to Romania for a weekend and have church with the kids in the children's
home and with the other missionaries up there. This is a lot of traveling, and
we thank the Lord every day for the vehicles that he has provided us with.

In the mornings we continue to bind Bibles. Right now we are sewing Turkish
Bibles (written in the Cyrillic alphabet). We are doing about thirty New
Testaments a week. They only cost about five dollars to print, and then the
binding is done by hand. We've already given out hundreds. People are thankful
to receive a Bible (for the first time). Some people are overjoyed. I've seen
people cry, and actually kiss the Bible when we give it to them! Recently Pastor
Ahmet told about taking Bibles to one of his villages. Apparently, earlier that
week some other religious workers had come through that village selling Bibles.
Our people are poor. They said that as bad as they wanted to buy a Bible, they
just didn't have the money. Later that week Pastor Ahmet came with boxes of
Bibles and gave one to each person in the church (for free). The people were
thrilled to see how God gave them the desire of their hearts.

Another part of our work week in the ministry is in the village of Avren
where we are working on a building. This will be used for church to meet, and it
will have be room to print and bind the Bibles there. I've had the joy of
running a jackhammer, busting out all the old concrete. Sometimes the work of
the ministry is actual work. The Lord told us to pray for labourers, not
loafers.

Aside from all this, we still make hospital visits and preach in various
other meetings. We've also seen that if one prays for opportunities to witness,
the Lord provides those opportunities. In our daily life and business, we've
recently had several people inquire about our work, which opens the door for us
to share the gospel with them.

We appreciate all that you do for us. Continue to keep us in your prayers.